Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 26 August 1921 |
| Jurisdiction | Ireland |
| Headquarters |
Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 53°19′56″N 6°15′22″W / 53.33222°N 6.25611°W |
| Minister responsible | |
| Department executive |
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| Website |
www |
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Irish: An Roinn Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Achmhainní Nádúrtha) is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors and regulates, protects and develops the natural resources of the Republic of Ireland. The head of the Department is the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources who is assisted by one Minister of State.
Departmental team
The official headquarters and ministerial offices of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources are in 29–31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2. The departmental team consists of the following:
- Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alex White, TD
- Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources: Joe McHugh, TD
- Secretary General of the Department: Mark Griffin[1]
History
The Department of Fisheries was created in 1921. Over the years its name and functions have changed several times. The Department was previously known as the following:
- Department of Fisheries (1921–1930)
- Department of Lands and Fisheries (1930–1937)
- Department of Lands (1937–1977)
- Department of Fisheries (1977–1978)
- Department of Fisheries and Forestry (1978–1986)
- Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry (1986–1987)
- Department of the Marine (1987–1997)
- Department of Marine and Natural Resources (1997–2002)
- Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (2002–2007)
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (2007–2016)
- Department of Climate Change,Communications and Natural Resources (2016–present)
The Department of Climate Change, Communications, and Natural Resources is the result of a series of amalgamations and dispersals of various Departments over recent decades. The most significant such change was in June 2002 when elements of the Department of Public Enterprise (those dealing with energy and communications), were merged with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources and smaller elements of other Departments, to form the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. In the years immediately following this, a series of functions formerly belonging to the Department of the Marine were dispersed out to other Departments (such as forestry, which went to the Department of Agriculture, and Maritime Transport and Ports, which went to the Department of Transport).
Following the 2007 General Election, the remaining elements of the Department with a marine focus were dispersed to other Departments (the Fisheries and Aquaculture functions went to the Department of Agriculture, and the Foreshore functions went to the Department of Agriculture). As such, the Department now consists of functions held in 2002 by the Department of Public Enterprise (Energy and Communications Policy), the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Broadcasting policy), the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources (Natural Resources, including mineral resources and Inland Fisheries), and the Department of the Taoiseach (Knowledge Society).
Following the 2016 General Election the Department remained substantially intact save that the Energy component was renamed to Climate Change.
Structure
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is subdivided into five divisions:
- Broadcasting – The Broadcasting Division aims to develop a policy and legislative framework to facilitate the provision of quality broadcasting services in Ireland, and to optimise the opportunities presented by the emerging technologies for the provision of new Irish-based broadcasting services.
- Energy – The Department has three major aims regarding energy: To develop a competitive energy supply industry, to ensure security and reliability of energy supply, and to develop energy conservation and end-use efficiency.
- Communications – The core policy objective of the Communications Sector is to contribute to sustained macro-economic growth and competitiveness and ensure that the Republic of Ireland is best placed to avail of the emerging opportunities provided by the information and knowledge society, by promoting investment in state-of-the-art infrastructures, by providing a supportive legislative and regulatory environment and by developing a leading edge research and development reputation in the information, communications and digital technologies.
- Natural Resources – This division is subdivided into three sectors: the Exploration and Mining Division, Petroleum Affairs Division, and the Geological Survey of Ireland.
Affiliated bodies
Among the State Agencies and other bodies affiliated to the Department in some way are:
- Commission for Energy Regulation
- Commission for Communications Regulation
- Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
- National Cyber Security Centre
- Digital Hub Development Agency
- National Digital Research Centre
- Ordnance Survey Ireland
- Geological Survey of Ireland
- Mining Board
- Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
- National Oil Reserves Agency
- Central and Regional Fisheries Boards
- Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (North/South body)
Among the state-sponsored bodies of the Republic of Ireland under the aegis of the Minister are:
- Electricity Supply Board
- Bord Gáis
- Bord na Móna
- EirGrid
- Raidió Teilifís Éireann
- TG4
- An Post
- Irish National Petroleum Corporation
References
- ↑ "Secretary General". Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Retrieved 3 October 2013.